Arts, gardens and architecture meet in Kassel

Kassel, located in northern Hesse, combines expansive, magnificent parks with a modern art and culture scene. Located in the heart of the Kassel mountains in northern Hesse, Kassel was once the seat of a prince's residence. Since that time, the Hercules Monument, the city's main landmark, has watched over Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe. Visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site can travel back in time to a grandiose past by touring the Lion's Castle (the Löwenburg), admiring baroque ponds, fountains and cascades and exploring the Wilhelmshöhe Palace with its large gallery of paintings. Kassel has hosted documenta, one of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions, every five years since 1955. documenta has repeatedly left its mark on the city, including Joseph Beuys's 7000 Oaks installation or the Man Walking to the Sky (Himmelsstürmer) sculpture at the main train station. In the city center, you can visit the neoclassical Museum Fridericianum or shop at the wide variety of stores arrayed around Königsplatz. The interactive Grimm World (Grimmwelt) Museum pays homage to the Brothers Grimm, who were proud Kassel residents.